FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

8/19/2015

Contacts:
Abbi Martzall, SPJ Awards Coordinator, (317) 920-4791, amartzall@spj.org
Maggie LaMar, SPJ Communications Coordinator, (317) 920-4785, mlamar@spj.org

For the first time, the Society of Professional Journalists is giving a national award for the best student journalism of the year. The award, called the MOEy, is a best in show from among more than 4,100 entries in SPJ's 2014 Mark of Excellence Awards competition.

Each year, student journalists across the United States compete in about 40 print, TV, radio and online categories. Winners are chosen in each category at the regional and national levels. This is the first time SPJ has combined all of the national winners to select five overall finalists and one best in show.

The MOEy finalists are:
• Cronkite News of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism (Best All-Around Television Newscast)
• Virgie Hoban of University of California, Berkeley (General News Reporting, Large School Division)
• Julie Angell of Michigan State University (General News Photography, Large School Division)
• NYCity News Service of City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism (Best Independent Online Student Publication)
• Peter Haden of Arizona State University (Radio Sports Reporting).

Cronkite News
Cronkite News of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, is the national winner for Best All-Around Television Newscast. Their winning piece was on the 2014 midterm election, the Arizona teacher shortage and the discovery of a gateway drug to heroin. You can view their submission piece here.

Virgie Hoban
Virgie Hoban of University of California, Berkeley, is the national winner for General News Reporting, Large School Division. Hoban’s winning piece, “Facing a Waning Future,” covered the defunding of the UC-owned observatory and its impact. You can read the entire story here.

Julie Angell
Julie Angell of Michigan State University is the national winner for General News Photography, Large School Division. Angell’s submission, “Grand Haven community holds candlelight vigil for Trevor Howard,” beautifully portrayed the story of a young boy, ill with leukemia, and a candlelight vigil honoring him. You can view the photographs and story here.

NYCity News Service
NYCity News Service of City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism is the national winner for Best Independent Online Student Publication. Their website describes NYCity News Service as a multi-media, Web-based outlet that feeds New York neighborhood stories to news organizations – including newspapers, broadcast stations, wire services and Internet service providers – throughout the world.

Peter Haden
Peter Haden of Arizona State University is the national winner for Radio Sports Reporting with his broadcast “Race Fans Flock For The ‘Almost-Crashes’.” Haden’s piece discusses the fascination with crashes and the possibility of built-in crashes during races. Listen to the broadcast here.

The winner of the MOEy will be presented at Excellence in Journalism 2015 during the Student Union Saturday, Sept. 19. The event is free with EIJ15 registration.

Thank you to this year's judges: Hagit Limor, Amy Cherry, Michael Koretzky, Andrew Seaman, Lynn Walsh, Andy Schotz, Sarah Sampson, Irwin Gratz, April Bethea and George Lettis.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information on SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.

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